PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Tre Kronor took home the WC gold in 2017 after Henrik Lundqvist saved the decisive penalty in the shootout against Canada.
First up to celebrate was William Nylander, who threw himself over the Swedish goalkeeper.
Now Lundqvist reveals a somewhat unexpected relationship with the “little newbie” – which stretches back many years.
Henrik Lundqvist and his New York Rangers went out of the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2017 already in the quarterfinals, which opened the door for the goalkeeper to join the Swedish World Cup squad and at the same time get the chance to play for the first time in the national team together with his twin brother Joel Lundqvist.
Became a hero
Despite a knee injury that for a long time seemed to stop Henrik Lundqvist from playing the final match against Canada, he was still on the ice when Tre Kronor took home the WC gold after penalties.
– I never thought I would be able to play that match. I was in pain and could barely move. Halfway into the match, the numbness in the knee began to wear off. And of course the match went to overtime and penalties, says Lundqvist in the SVT documentary “Henrik Lundqvist – a hockey saga”.
READ MORE: Therese Johaug’s tough outing against the Swedish stars – now singles out Karlsson and Dahlqvist: “Must stand for it”
The article continues after the picture.
Lundqvist became the match hero when he saved the decisive penalty and was the first to come forward to celebrate the salvaged gold William Nylander who threw himself at Lundqvist – images that have since become something of a classic. But the celebration was also a painful one.
– The hip hurt so damn much. I landed right on the ball of my hip and was in pain for a month, says Lundqvist in the documentary.
Unexpected relationship
Despite the fact that Lundqvist and Nylander are 14 years apart, they both actually have a relationship that goes back many years. 17 years to be exact.
The article continues after the picture.
In SVT’s new documentary about Henrik Lundqvist’s career, he explains why.
– We often greeted “Nyllet”, Mikael Nylander, who played on the same team my first year in the NHL. Then I played field hockey with his boys. And then “little Nyllet” and I won together. You never know where life will take you. That is what is beautiful, he says.
READ MORE: Henrik Lundqvist reveals the unknown decision to the family – now tells the truth: “An active choice for their sake”